Washington Waves: Waterway News From D. C.
The commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the establishment of four Customs Enforcement Areas (CEA) in the near-shore waters of south Florida, central/southern California, Puerto Rico and the Gulf Coast of Texas to further CBP efforts to interdict hovering vessels.
According to the CBP announcement in the Federal Register on August 25, the CEAs described in the announcement were established on that same day.
The CBP added that its action “authorizes customs officers and agents to enforce applicable U.S. laws, including the authorization to board vessels, examine vessels, merchandise and persons on board, bring the same into port and pursue, seize and arrest individuals within the CEAs.”
For additional information, contact Scott Leach 202-325-2114 or CEA@cbp.dhs.gov.
Board Of Visitors
The secretary of Homeland Security announced the establishment of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Board of Visitors to make recommendations on the operation of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
According to the announcement in the Federal Register on August 24, the membership of the board shall consist of the chairs of key congressional committees or their designees, two Senate appropriators appointed by the vice president and three additional senators chosen by the vice president, two House appropriators appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, four additional members of the House appointed by the speaker and six individuals designated by the president.
For additional information, contact Michael Miron at 202-343-1673 or dhsfaca@hq.dhs.gov.
NMC Seeks Credentialing Experts
The National Maritime Center (NMC) announced it is seeking experienced merchant mariners for shoreside federal positions that support the credentialing, training and examination of the nation’s maritime workforce.
Recruitment includes credentialed deck and engine officers as well as military veterans with comparable maritime experience for positions in the GS-12 to GS-14 pay grades. Depending on grade, step and locality, the agency said salaries may range from approximately $89,000 to more than $187,000.
NMC is recruiting for positions in Alaska, California, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and West Virginia.
“For mariners considering a transition ashore, these positions offer an opportunity to continue serving the maritime industry while applying real-world experience to the development and assessment of future mariners,” NMC said.
Positions are being advertised through USAJOBS.
Maumee Restoration Funding
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) joined state and local partners to announce more than $37.6 million in funding to support continued restoration and remediation efforts in the Maumee Area of Concern in northwest Ohio.
According to the EPA’s announcement, the funding will be used to complete three projects in the Maumee and Ottawa rivers, including more than $34 million for the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority to dredge approximately 121,000 cubic yards of sediment contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other contaminants from a one-mile area along the Lower Maumee River.
The dredged sediment will be placed in the Toledo Harbor confined disposal facility.
The EPA is providing $32.34 million from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative for the project with $1.75 million from the Ohio EPA to cover disposal.
One of the largest areas of concern in the United States, the Maumee Area of Concern covers 787 square miles in northwest Ohio, including 1,900 miles of streams and 45 miles of Lake Erie shoreline.
Beautifying Transportation Infrastructure
The Beautifying Transportation Infrastructure Council, which advises the secretary of transportation on enhancing the aesthetic value of the nation’s transportation systems, is scheduled to hold a virtual meeting September 30. Open to the public, the meeting is set to begin at 10 a.m. (EST).
Information on joining the virtual meeting is to be available at https:// www.transportation.gov/beautify transportation/meetings.
For additional information, contact Julianne Schwarzer at 617-999-9667 or BeautifyTransportation@dot.gov.
Modular Nuclear Agreement
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Port of Corpus Christi have signed an agreement focused on small modular reactor (SMR) technology for maritime applications.
According to the DOT announcement, the agreement with the Texas port, the nation’s largest for petroleum exports and a leader in liquefied natural gas shipments, is the second signed since Duffy launched the SMR initiative in May.
“Small modular reactors have the potential to reshape America’s maritime sector, lower shipping costs and bolster our supply chains,” Duffy said. “Maritime dominance starts with rebuilding America’s fleet with this state-of-the-art technology.”
Through a Memorandum of Cooperation, DOT said the Maritime Administration and the port agreed to work together to explore opportunities to advance maritime energy systems, including through the potential integration of SMR technologies, resilient port microgrids, shoreside power architecture, infrastructure capable of supporting emerging vessel propulsion concepts and related workforce development opportunities.
